“A carer spends a significant proportion of their
life providing unpaid support to family or
potentially friends. This could be caring for a
relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled
or has mental health or substance misuse
problems.”
(Department of Health 2008)
Between July 2007 and July 2009, a Carers’ Support Service
operated within one area of Salford City (Charlestown and Lower Kersal). This original service was the pre-cursor to a different service known as the Salford Carers’ Development Service (SCDS). The SCDS was set up to meet carers’ support needs in other areas of the City from August 2009 using the learning from this original service. The SCDS comprised staff who had provided the Charlestown and Lower Kersal service and its senior management remained the same. The plan for the SCDS was that it would focus on three other areas of the City consecutively, with each one receiving dedicated SCDS input for a year-long period.In spring 2010, the SCDS manager (Chief Executive of Unlimited
Potential – a social enterprise in the form of a community benefit society) negotiated an evaluation study to be undertaken by researchers from the University of Salford’s School of Nursing and Midwifery. Groundwork for the evaluation took place over the summer of 2010, with data collection commencing in October 2010 and completing in February 2011. This report shares the findings from this project which is an example of public engagement
activity
